Monarch's Way

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Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   Text © Copyright May 2011, John M; licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence.
Images also under a similar Creative Commons Licence.


Introduction


The Monarch's Way is a Long Distance Footpath devised by the late Trevor Antill based upon the route taken by King Charles II in his flight to exile following the Battle of Worcester on September 3rd 1651. The footpath runs for 619 miles from the battlefield at Worcester to Shoreham on Sea in Sussex.

King Charles I was executed on 30th January 1649. His son Charles landed in Scotland in 1650 and was crowned as King of Scotland the following year. Aged 21 he marched into England at the head of a Scottish army raising his standard in Worcester. His subsequent flight took place over six weeks during which he was a fugitive with a price on his head culminating with his escape to France on the coal barque Surprise.

Worcester Battlefield (Powick Fields)



The final battle of the Civil War was fought on 3rd September 1651 between a largely Scots Royalist force led by King Charles II and a much larger Parliamentary force led by Oliver Cromwell. The sacrifice of the Highland Clans and Lowland Scots is marked by a plaque at the start of the Monarch’s Way.

SO8352 : Battle of Worcester - Scottish Memorial by John M SO8352 : Old Powick Bridge over the River Teme by John M SO8352 : Historic Powick Bridge over the river Teme by Roger Davies

Powick bridge features at both the start and end of the Civil Wars. One of the first skirmishes of the Civil War took place here in 1642 when a Royalist baggage train was attacked.

The River Teme forms the southern edge of the battlefield.

SO8352 : River Teme downstream of  Old Powick Bridge by John M SO8452 : Battle of Worcester - Banks of the River Teme by John M SO8352 : Battle of Worcester - Banks of the River Teme by John M SO8452 : Deviation on the Monarch's Way by John M
SO8452 : Short cut across as ploughed field by John M SO8452 : Battle of Worcester - Meadows beside the River Teme by John M SO8452 : River Teme upstream of confluence with River Severn by John M SO8552 : Confluence of River Teme and River Severn by John M

On reaching the confluence with the River Severn the Monarch’s Way heads upstream to Worcester Bridge.

The Parliamentary forces constructed two bridges of boats across the River Severn and River Teme near to the confluence allowing the cavalry to rout the Royalist forces on Powick Fields.

SO8552 : Monarch's Way on the Worcester Battlefield by John M SO8552 : Monarch's Way on the Worcester Battlefield by John M SO8552 : Battle of Worcester - Powick by John M SO8452 : Battle of Worcester - Meadows beside the River Severn by John M SO8453 : River Severn beside the Civil War battlefield by John M
SO8453 : Weir on River Severn at Diglis by John M SO8453 : Worcester Battlefield - Chapter Meadows by John M SO8454 : Riverside walk, Worcester by Philip Halling SO8454 : Worcester Cathedral by Philip Halling SO8454 : Bridge over the River Severn at Worcester by Chris Gunns

King Charles II observed the progress of the battle on the meadows west of Worcester from his vantage point on the tower of the cathedral.

SO8454 : The River Severn and Flood Plain by Bob Embleton SO8454 : Worcester Cricket Ground by Bob Embleton SO8454 : Worcester Bridge from The Cathedral Tower by Bob Embleton

Worcester to Droitwich


The Monarch's Way leaves the city using the towpath of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. The canal was opened almost 180 years after the battle but provides a quiet start to the journey ahead.

The Commandery beside Lock 3 was the Kings headquarters near to Sudbury Gate. From here the king escaped to King Charles House before fleeing the city

SO8453 : Start of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal by Bob Embleton SO8554 : The Commandery, Worcester by D WilliamsSO8554 : King Charles House, Worcester by Philip Halling SO8554 : Plaque on King Charles House, Worcester by Philip Halling SO8555 : Worcester & Birmingham Canal by Trevor Rickard
SO8555 : Autumn on the Worcester & Birmingham by Dave Bushell SO8556 : Worcester and Birmingham Canal by Philip Halling SO8556 : Worcester to Birmingham Canal, Bilford. by Derek Bradley SO8557 : Perdiswell Lock by Bob Embleton SO8657 : Blackpole Bridge - Bridge No. 17, Worcester and Birmingham Canal by Chris Allen

Leaving the canal at Bridge 17 the path heads north through Fernhill Heath to join the Droitwich Barge Canal at Porters Hill Farm. The Barge Canal was built to transport salt to the River Severn. It has recently been re-opened as far as the River Salwarpe and the link to the Worcester & Birmingham canal will be restored in 2011. The footpath now follows it all the way to the outskirts of Droitwich.

SO8660 : Droitwich Canal at Porter's Mill by Philip Halling SO8660 : Droitwich Barge Canal Lock 7 looking north by P L Chadwick SO8660 : Droitwich Barge Canal by Trevor Rickard SO8661 : Droitwich Canal at Ladywood by Philip Halling SO8761 : Droitwich Barge Canal by Trevor Rickard
SO8762 : The cut's in a cutting by Chris Allen SO8762 : St Michael's and All Angels Church, Salwarpe. by Chris Allen SO8762 : Salwarpe Court by Richard Greenwood SO8862 : Droitwich Canal by Philip Halling SO8862 : Droitwich Barge Canal, Valley Way Bridge by Chris Allen

Droitwich to Chaddesley Corbett


SO8863 : Entrance arch to Westwood House, Droitwich by Philip Halling SO8763 : The Monarch's Way near Westwood House. by David Stowell SO8763 : Westwood House by Richard Greenwood SO8764 : Monarch's Way footpath by Mike Dodman SO8865 : Lych Gate to Hampton Lovett church by Philip Halling

Sir John Packington of Westwood, Hampton Lovett had mustered with Charles at Worcester

SO8868 : Bryan's Green, near Cutnall Green by Philip Halling SO8869 : Pylon and post. by Mike Dodman SO8870 : Crossroads on Clattercut Lane by Peter Whatley SO8871 : Footpath at Rushock by Philip Halling SO8871 : Rushock church by Philip Halling

Chaddesley Corbett
SO8972 : Point-to-Point course at Chaddesley Corbett by Trevor Rickard SO8973 : Crop field at Chaddesley Corbett by Trevor Rickard SO8973 : St Cassian's and the garden of the Swan PH by Row17 SO8973 : Main street at Chaddesley Corbett by Trevor Rickard

Chaddesley Corbett to Hagley

Passing by Harvington Hall the route passes through open countryside to Hagley.
SO8874 : The Monarch's Way near New House Farm by Trevor Rickard SO8774 : Harvington Hall by Martyn B SO8774 : Monarch's Way near Harvington by Gordon Griffiths SO8875 : Monarch's Way by Gordon Griffiths SO8876 : Reinstated Way by Gordon Griffiths
SO8876 : Monarch's Way Stile by Gordon Griffiths SO8877 : Barnett Hill View by Gordon Griffiths SO8877 : Passing Hunters Lodge by Gordon Griffiths SO8877 : Passing New House Farm by Gordon Griffiths SO8879 : Stakenbridge by Gordon Griffiths
SO8879 : Wet Day on Monarch's Way by Gordon Griffiths SO8979 : Harborough Farm by Gordon Griffiths SO8978 : Overtaken on Monarch's Way by Gordon Griffiths SO8978 : Monarch's Way View by Gordon Griffiths SO8980 : Monarch’s Way Footpath from Brake Lane  to Brake Mill Farm, Worcestershire by Richard Rogerson
SO8981 : North Worcestershire Path by Gordon Griffiths SO8981 : Springtime on the Monarch's Way by John M SO8981 : Stile on the Monarch's and North Worcestershire Ways by John M SO9080 : School playing fields beside the Monarch's Way by John M SO9080 : Railway bridge on the Monarch's Way by John M
SO9080 : Housing alongside the Monarch's Way by John M SO9080 : Grazing beside the Monarch's Way by John M SO9180 : Monarch's Way approaching Hagley by John M

KML

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